What is the Latin word for liberal?

The usual Latin words for “liberal” are largus, largior, līberālis; also beneficus, benignus, mūnificus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“liberal” in Latin

largusabundant, copious, plentiful, large, abounding in something; bountiful, liberal, munificent; generous with, lavish of largiorto grant, bestow, dispense, distribute, impart; to lavish or bestow; to give bribes līberālisfreedom; dignified, honorable, befitting a freedman; generous, liberal, bountiful, ample beneficusbeneficent; generous, liberal; blessed benignuskind, good, friendly, pleasant; beneficent, obliging, bounteous; favorable, mild mūnificusbountiful, liberal, benevolent, generous, munificent ingenuusnatural, indigenous; free-born, freeborn, of free birth; noble, upright, frank, candid, ingenuous bonusgood, honest, brave, noble, kind, pleasant; right; useful ampluslarge, spacious, roomy; abundant, ample; impetuous, violent, strong

The English word liberal itself goes back to Latin līber, through līberālis.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

liberal

Bountiful, largus (that gives largely from his own property); largitor (the largus, with a selfish or unworthy end in view); liberalis (the largus, when he gives from good motives and with a noble end in view; opposed to prodigus, Vid: Cic., Off., 2, 16, 55); beneficus, benignus (the former, kind in deed; the latter, kind in disposition, but frequently for beneficus; ☞ Cic., Deiot., 9, 26); largus, beneficus, liberalis; munificus (that makes presents to others without reckoning on a return). (The words are found in this connection and order.) largus et liberalis; liberalis et munificus; liberalissimus munificentissimusque; beneficus liberalisque liberalissimus et beneficentissimus. Not liberal, restrictus (Cic., Off., 2, 18, 62; ad Div., 3, 8, 8): too liberal, prodigus, effusus, profusus (that knows not how to observe moderation in giving): to be liberal toward anyone, largum, liberalem, beneficum esse in aliquem: to be very liberal, magna esse liberalitate: liberal in money, liberalis pecuniae: to be liberal with anything, largam alicujus rei copiam concedere: to be liberal from another person’s property, largiri ex or de alieno: to be liberal in anything, sumtibus non parcere in re: in a liberal manner, large; liberaliter. (The words are found in this connection and order.) large liberaliterque benigne; munifice. (The words are found in this connection and order.) munifice et large: to be too liberal in praising anyone, *praeter modum aliquem laudare; *nimium esse in alicujus laudibus; tribuere alicui laudem immodicam (after Pseudo-Cic. ad Brut., 1, 15, med.): to be too liberal in decreeing honors, in decernendis honoribus nimium esse, et tamquam prodigum.

Generous, ingenuous, ingenuus; liberalis: bonus. The liberal arts, etc., artes or doctrinae ingenuae, liberales, bonae.

Plentiful, amplus; largus; benignus (Hor.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for liberal?: The usual Latin words for “liberal” are largus, largior, līberālis; also beneficus, benignus, mūnificus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.